Walnut Hill School of Arts merges talents for performance by Prometheus Dance Company

Sunday

Oct 15, 2017 at 2:45 AM

Brian Benson Daily News Staff @bbensonMWDN

NATICK - An upcoming dance show at Walnut Hill School for the Arts brings together the talents of visual artists, choreographers and, of course, dancers.

Prometheus Dance Company partnered with visual artists Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison to develop Project I.I.I., a form of modern dance theater.

"They set up the playground and we created the dance in their scenario," said Diane Arvanites, co-artistic director of Prometheus Dance, which moved to Walnut Hill in 2015.

The three I's stand for Influence, Impact and Imprint.

The work merges "ideas examining behavioral, cultural and historical influences in an evening length piece," creators wrote. "Project I.I.I. contains the essence of crowd psychology, attachment, the exchange of power, surprise, curiosity, bravery and addiction. Like a Beckett play, Project I.I.I. is a combination of macabre, minimalist, absurd and existential events that form a social commentary."

In a way, the piece reflects life, Arvanites said.

The work, which has been in development for several years, includes a variety of vignettes.

"It's definitely not a narrative," said Shana ParkeHarrison. "I’d almost describe it as small vignettes that build up to a cohesive pull, but by no means is it a linear program in the least."

The work explores the influence, impact and imprint of characters on one another, said dancer Danielle Davidson of Providence, RI.

"Primarily, it's about relationships," she said. "What happens when we encounter others on our journeys and what those relationships can do to us."

Davidson is thrilled to be involved in a multi-disciplinary production that she hopes will help connect new people to the world of professional dance.

"This is an untapped, new group of people who can uncover dance," she said of performing in Natick.

The work is different than watching a movie where everything is told to the audience, said ParkeHarrison. "It's meant for the audience to actively think and not just be entertained."

Prometheus Dance will present the collaboration Thursday through Saturday at the Highland Street school's Delbridge Family Center for the Arts.

Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.